Medicine: Relief from Parkinson's

A million or more Americans, most of them over 50, suffer from
Parkinson's disease, once generally known as "shaking palsy." The
mysterious nerve disorder causes tremors, muscle rigidity, involuntary
movements, slurred speech and may eventually disable the victim. Until
recently it was virtually untreatable. Last week the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration cautiously approved L-dopa, the first drug shown to
be effective in a majority of cases of Parkinsonism. As a result,
L-dopa, although subject to unprecedented safeguards because of its
undesirable side effects, now becomes available for general
prescription use.